Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-11-01
IN CENTRAL souoAN.
The wonderful Degree OF Civilization
Encountered In That Far-Oh Country.

the well-swept yard, the we'll
washed earthen-ware, cooking pots,
and other kitchen utensils, the dainti-
ly-carved calabashes for milk. water
and variety of purposes. Here
stands part of tree followed into
a mortar for pounding certain grains,
and there bedded, coarse-grained
stone, on which the family meal is
ground. Everywhere arc to be OBJ
served evidences of the thrift and in
dustry which distinguish the Sou
danese household. Unlike the domes-
tic establishments of most Moham-
medan parts, there is no pampered
laziness or voluptuous ease. Wife and
slave alike are busily engaged In
household duties. or work which will
bring money to the workers! Here is
cotton being leased and cleaned, then
with spindle and wheel turned into
thread Food SINNERS or boils on the
fire in the various savory, if oily,
dishes for which tho Haussa women
are famous. We note that no heavy
or unwomanly tasks are laid upon the
| femalea In the store-rooms
and masters apartments are to be
seen a great variety of objects heaped
together or lying about without any
attempt at order. Here may be found
the owners weapons of war-many
double-edged swords, with scabbards
handsomely ornamented with leather
and brass, and suspended by elaborate
and betasselled silk ropes. daggers in
tended to be attached to the wrist by
a leather band-the cross-shaped han
do when thus carried almost lying
in the palm of the hand-beautiful long
iron spears neatly and prettily inlaid
with brass bands. and generally
barbed. revolvers and pistols of the
most obsolete types, as well as flint
lock guns, which look as if they would
be MS dangerous to the user as they
could possibly be to an enemy. Such
are the offensive weapons. But there
are also to be seen war dresses of enor-
mously thick quilts, intended spe-
ciaily as protection against poi
soned arrows. The warrior when en-
cased in these cumbersome garments
looks the most unwieldly and barrel
like of African Falstaffs. as he can
neither mount his horse nor dismount
without assistance. and if endorsed he
is perfectly helpless. Many of the
wealthy chiefs have also very beautiful
coats of chain armor, with head-gear
to match, which are probably of old
Moorish workmanship, and are said
by tho natives to be as old as David
and are accordingly valued at great
price.
Besides the objects which SAVIOR of
war, numbers of other things lying
about in artistic disorder attract at
tention. Brass vessels are the most
conspicuous, and indicate manipu-
lative skill and an artistic taste which
we would certainly not expect in such
n country. The chief types of native
work are large circular SAVERS or
trays, globular vessels, others carafe-
like in form. urns resembling coffee
pots They are all deliberately orna-
mentcd either In rcpousse or chased in
the intricate manner which character
ICES Moorish art. Many of the designs
are most beautiful, and worked out
with patient care. In the brass work.
er's art, as III so many other things,
the influence of North African ideas is
easily traceable, though how they have
come to take such fixed root in the
Soudan it would be difficult to say.
Our wonder at the quaint and effective
work is enhanced on learning that all
these vessels are hammered out OF
brass rods, each two feet long and OF
the thickness of telegraph wire, in
which form it reaches these parts from
Europe.
The specimens Of pottery which we
see lying about exhibit wonderful
skill in that industry, considering that
as yet they have not adopted the pot
tcr's wheel The most extraordinary
objects, however, which attract our at
tention are the skin vessels for holding
oil. In some way or other they are
| iOiiNNi iito thC iC1hiito loi HIS puL Vi
raw hide, and so constructed in a
single piece as hardly to show the
slightest trace of joint They are
not sewed, but the two edges of the
skin are made to adhere most firmly
by some means. The outer aspect is
ornamentcd in black, white and light
brown with strips of skin having these
colors. The hair is left on except on
the neck. They are ingeniously fitted
with caps or lids to keep out any for.
eign matter. Only oil or grain is kept
in them, as water softens the Unframed
skin. In some cases they are clearly
intended more for ornament than use
as frequently four smaller vessels Of
the same pattern are attached to the
chief one with the most happy ant
artistic effect
One thing which we can not fail tc
notice in looking round Wurnu house.
hold of the upper ten" is that tn,
people have largely acquired aesthetic
tastes, and delight to surround them.
selves with articles which please the
eye, as we'll as with those which arc
merely useful; and to minister to this
taste score of industries have sprung
up. Joseph Thomson, IN Hotper's Mag
astne.
Imagination becomes a snare wher
allowed to run riot
An English sparrow hns gone t,
housekeeping beside the window of a,
Auburn, Me-, lady, who sits and look